The youngster was taken into the hospital’s care after his poverty-stricken father Imran Sheikh appealed for help.

Following the surgery, Mr Sheikh told the media: “We are a poor family. I am thankful to the government for helping us treating my baby."

Gynaecologist and President of the Pakistan Medical Association, Dr Samrina Hashmi, told the South Asian News Agency the baby's abnormalities could have been caused by several factors, including improper medicines taken by his mother during pregnancy and contaminated water.

“In every 10,000 child births one baby is born with an abnormality such as a hole in the heart,” she said.

“Then there is a possibility that several eggs were fertilised instead of one,” she said.

Before the surgery, Mr Sheikh had issued a direct appeal to the government, stating: “I can’t afford to visit Karachi and get treatment for my baby.

“I appeal to philanthropists and the government to come forward for the treatment.”

Baby Born With Six Legs

Baby Born With Six Legs

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KARACHI, PAKISTAN, APRIL 19: National Institute of Child Heath Director, Dr.Jamal Raza along with Imran Sheikh, father of six legged infant child, addresses press conference about successful operation on April 19, 2012 in Karachi, Pakistan. A team of doctors on Thursday successfully operated on the six- legged boy here in Karachi and separated his four legs and other extra parts from the body. As per details, a team of five experienced doctors fought to save the life of the infant born with six legs because of a rare genetic condition. The baby was operated in National Institute of Child Heath (NICH) Karachi. Jamal Raza, head of NICH, said the extra limbs were separated after surgery, adding that the limbs were result of a genetic disease which would affect only one in a million or more babies and it was strange that apparently an abnormal baby with six legs was as normal as other children. Doctors examined MRI, blood tests, CT scan reports and other test and later took the decision to do surgery which lasted for eight-hours in different phases. PHOTOGRAPH BY Asianet-Pakistan / Barcroft India UK